can a muskrat drain a pond

Muskrats

are found mainly near water and marsh areas. Most of the damage that muskrats cause is to structures in and around water. Muskrat burrowing can drain ponds on your property.

Full Answer

Are muskrats bad for pond dams?

Muskrats are one of the most damaging animals to a pond. Muskrats can quickly threaten the integrity of a pond dam since they burrow at the water surface and build tunnels that connect to larger spaces. In many cases, muskrat damage can be minimized if the tunnels and associated dam leaks are repaired quickly.

How do you get rid of muskrats in a lake?

Once a muskrat has established a home, the most effective solution is having them trapped and removed from the area. Our specialized lake, pond, and stormwater maintenance services can help minimize the risk of muskrats by controlling and treating the vegetation they feed on and maintaining proper shoreline health.

Do you have a muskrat problem on your property?

One of the first ways you may notice that you have a problem with muskrats is that you will notice signs of borrows, runs, or dens near or in the ponds or lakes on your property. The first step to implementing any type of muskrat deterrent method on your property is to find where they are entering.

How long do muskrats live in ponds?

Their tails are longer and thicker than the rats and can weigh around 2 to 5 pounds with a lifespan of about 1 to 3 years basically. Now, coming to our main topic of “are muskrats bad for a pond?”

Do muskrats destroy ponds?

Identification of Damage Muskrats damage ponds by burrowing into dams and banks to make dens, thus increasing the chance of seepage and erosion. Den openings are 4-6 inches in diameter and are usually near the surface, though in ponds with frequent water level fluctuations they may be in deeper water.

How do I keep muskrats out of my pond?

A fence should stand at least 1 foot above ground level, and penetrate 3 feet below the water level to avoid burrowing underneath. Fencing must surround the entire perimeter of the pond or waterway in order to keep muskrats out.

What kind of damage can a muskrat do?

While muskrats may seem harmless, they are also tunneling animals, which means that they can cause serious damage to the landscaping of your pond and yard. They can also create embankments and barriers that can cause flooding and as a result, can also cause erosion.

How do you fill muskrat holes in a pond?

1:161:58Muskrat Damage Control - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSince this pond the water levels down you'll want to come back in with rock. And rock it about threeMoreSince this pond the water levels down you'll want to come back in with rock. And rock it about three foot up and three foot down preventing. Any further damage or muskrats moving back in to the pond.

What time of day are muskrats most active?

Muskrats are considered nocturnal, though they are sometimes active during the day. Their most active times are late afternoon and right after dusk.

What's the best way to get rid of muskrats?

1.4.1 1) Cover Banks With Liner.1.4.2 2) Install Floating Netting.1.4.3 3) Live Trapping (Humane Traps)1.4.4 4) Install Perimeter Fencing.1.4.5 5) Use Natural Repellents.1.4.6 6) Attract Natural Predators.1.4.7 7) Remove Muskrat Food Sources.1.4.8 8) Hire a Pest Professional.

What do you fill muskrat holes with?

8. Dig a narrow trench with a trenching machine along the bank, down to 3 feet below water level. Fill the trench with a mix of 90 percent soil and 10 percent cement, watered to a slurry. When this mix hardens, muskrats cannot burrow.

How do you tell if I have muskrats in my pond?

Muskrats are rodents who live in and near water. If you have a lake or a pond on your property you may have to deal with muskrats at some point....In general, the signs that you have muskrats include:Tracks.Muskrat scat.Burrowing trails.Dens.Lodges.

What eats a muskrat?

The muskrat's main predators are mink and otters. Some raptors (bird predators) such as eagles and ospreys will attack swimming muskrats. When on land, muskrats are vulnerable to predation by foxes, coyotes and raccoons.

How deep do muskrats burrow?

6 to 12 inchesMuskrat dens in sloughs, ditches, lakes, streams and farm ponds are predominantly located in underground burrows. The burrow's submerged entrance is usually 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30 cm) below the surface of the water (Figure 8).

Are muskrats destructive?

Muskrats are unique, semi-aquatic rodents named for the musky smell and rat-like appearance. They're known mostly for their destructive burrowing in ponds, streams and dams, but there's more than this to these large wetland-dwelling mammals.

What do muskrats eat in a pond?

Since muskrats are primarily herbivores, plant natural foods, such as cattail, pickerelweed, bulrush, smartweed, duck potato, horsetail, water lily, sedges, willows, and other aquatics and riparia species. Be sure to plant only species native to your area. Planting crops adjacent to lakes and ponds can also help.

What plants do muskrats hate?

To use garlic and cayenne to repel muskrats, you can use the plant itself. Simply cut some cayenne and garlic up and spread the mixture around your pond, near muskrat burrows, and on their floating barges. Similarly, you can plant peppermint to grow in these areas.

What animal kills muskrats?

Great horned wolfs, goshawks, bald and golden eagles will kill muskrats when they are in the marshes. Raccoons, black snakes, alligators, and water moccasins are all enemies of the muskrat and can attack them easily since they line in the water.

What are muskrats attracted to?

One option is to reduce the amount of aquatic vegetation in and around the pond. Since muskrats are especially attracted to ponds containing aquatic vegetation, reducing these plants can help reduce muskrat numbers. Cattails, burr weed, and arrowhead are all plants that are favored by muskrats.

How do you fix muskrat damage to ponds?

If farm pond dams or levees are being damaged, one of the ways that damage can be reduced is to draw the pond down at least 2 feet (61 cm) below normal levels during the winter. Then fill dens, burrows, and runs and rip-rap the dam with stone. Once the water is drawn down, trap or otherwise remove all muskrats.

What will happen if water flows over a muskrat pond?

Water flowing over this area will contribute to more erosion and sediment accumulation, leading to even more muskrat pond damage. -Look for widening burrows and cave-ins. -Look for collapsed banks and extreme erosion due to extensive burrowing.

Where is Dragonfly Pond located?

Dragonfly Pond Works is a lake, pond, and stormwater management company. We provide specialized maintenance, shoreline restoration, and more throughout North Carolina in Raleigh, Durham, Charlotte, Cary, and Wilmington. Our pond and lake maintenance services, shoreline restoration, and more can be found throughout Florida, in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Naples, Sarasota, Fort Myers, and Orlando. We also provide lake and pond maintenance in Myrtle Beach, Charleston, Columbia, South Carolina, and Atlanta, Georgia. We strive to develop long-term relationships based on quality work, timely service, cost-efficiency, and of course, trust.

How big are muskrats?

The muskrat is a medium sized rodent found across most of the United States. Muskrats resemble small beavers, averaging 22-25 inches in length and 2-3 pounds as adults. Muskrats have quite a high reproductive rate. Each litter may contain 2-9 babies and females can have up to 5 litters per year.

What is the most common mammal that can cause damage to a lake?

One mammal that may lead to destruction is the Muskrat.

What will worsen as water flows through and over the burrows?

Shoreline erosion, which will worsen as water flows through and over the burrows.

What can a burrow in a dam do?

Tunnels or burrows in dams can lead to failures. Burrows under and around pipes can lead to pipe separations which can lead to drainage issues and potential sinkholes. All of these issues lead to unsafe conditions and potential compliance violations and/or fines.

Do muskrats make their home in the water?

However, muskrats still may make your aquatic space their home, especially in more developed areas. Routine specialized maintenance will identify wildlife activity as soon as possible to minimize damage, repair costs, and violations/fines. Additionally, our experts can repair any damage caused by muskrats.

What do muskrats eat?

Muskrat's mostly eat aquatic vegetation such as cattails, arrowheads, and duckweeds. Occasionally eats crayfish, snails, mussels, frogs, insects, and slow-moving fish. I don't think you need to really worry about him...unless you are worried about him spooking the fish or tearing up the vegetation that the fish normally use for cover. If you start seeing lots of fish carcass' though I might consider contacting your state's conservation department and let them assist you in removing him.

What to do if you see lots of fish carcass?

If you start seeing lots of fish carcass' though I might consider contacting your state's conservation department and let them assist you in removing him.

Can you have a pet cottonmouth in the South?

Just remember when your fishing in the South. Cottonmouths, moccasins, and other toothy venemous critters are not pets. they can definitly ruin your afternoon.

When do we have one come to the pond?

We have one come to the pond every spring when they're ruttin. After a while he realizes there are no females and leaves.

Can a raised berm hurt a dam?

They will burrow into the berm to den and can cause problems over time with the structrual integrity of the dam. If there is no berm then they shouldn' t hurt anything important.

Can muskrats fix ponds?

Many ponds I fish have many muskrats and they dont seem to affect the fixing so it should be ok

Is a beaver a nutria?

Just be glad that you don't have one of these in the grass That isn't a beaver, it's a Nutria, and their teeth are almost equal in size. They get almost as big as a beaver so you can imagine spooking one of these things while wading saltmarsh for redfish.

Identifying a Muskrat

Weighing only 2 to 4 pounds and measuring 22 to 25 inches (including its nearly hairless, scaly tail that it uses to propel through the water), the muskrat is covered in short, dense fur in shades of brown, grey and blonde. It has relatively small front feet with four major toes and small thumbs.

Home Sweet Home

So what do muskrats look for in a home? They like a spot that includes plenty of food, a body of water and shoreline vegetation. These guys chow on a variety of greens and protein, including roots, stems and buds as well as frogs, snails and fish.

Damage Control

Uncontrolled muskrat populations can cause damage to private property and habitat. Their hole digging activities undermine earthen dams, dikes, irrigation canals and farm ponds. Their burrows and shelters may change the direction of water flow into or out of the pond. To rid your pond of muskrats, there are a couple of different techniques.

1. How Do I Set Traps for Muskrats in My Pond?

The first way to get rid of muskrats in a pond, and perhaps the most outright effective, is to set traps. This is a direct way of getting ahold of the rodents and removing them. You can use a trap baited with fruit such as sweet potatoes or a type of vegetation that you’ve seen evidence of them eating.

2. How Do I Use Netting to Deter Muskrats from My Pond?

You can also place netting at the top of your pond, in the water, to deter muskrats. Floating netting with small holes won’t disrupt the ecosystem too much, meaning frogs, bugs, and fish will be mostly unbothered.

3. How Do I Use a Bank Liner to Deter Muskrats from My Pond?

You can also cover the banks of your pond with some kind of plastic pond liner. Because muskrats rely on burrowing and digging to do what they do, a liner will make it difficult for them to do so.

4. How Do I Remove Food Sources for Muskrats in My Pond?

One other way you could reduce the muskrat population in your pond is by eliminating their food sources. Since they eat mostly aquatic vegetation, you can target some of their favorite foods and try to remove them from your pond.

5. How Do I Use Pesticide Sprays to Get Rid of Muskrats in Ponds?

Finally, you can use sprays that ward off muskrats and similar pests. Applying them to the vegetation you don’t want them to eat will send them running because of their unpleasant taste and odor.

Conclusion

Be sure to try out our five easy ways to get rid of muskrats in ponds.

Why are muskrats considered a problem animal?

Muskrat Nuisance Concerns: Due to the tendency to burrow into embankments, the muskrat is looked on as a problem animal in many regions of the country. Levees and floodwalls can be damaged—sometimes invisibly—by the den burrowing these rodents perform. Because holes are often below the water level, most places are not aware there is a problem until it is too late. In rural settings, muskrats will often leave their watery habitats and feed on corn or other crops. This is another reason the animals are seen as pests.

What diseases do muskrats carry?

Muskrat Diseases: Muskrats are known carriers of a number of diseases. Giardia, a protozoan that creates intestinal havoc, is most often associated with beavers; however, it is a water-borne illness and as such can be spread by other aquatic mammals. Tularemia, a disease commonly spread by rodents and characterized by ulcers and joint pain, is also present in muskrat populations. Other diseases that can spread to humans include leptospirosis, ringworm, and pseudotuberculosis. Concerns for house pets include Tyzzer’s disease, intestinal parasites, mites, ticks, and secondary gastrointestinal upset from consumption of a muskrat carcass.

How to get rid of muskrats?

The easiest and most effective way of getting rid of muskrats is to call a professional pest removal service. Muskrats are smart, resilient and hard to catch. Pest removers can the knowledge and the tools to catch the animal quickly and safely.

How many litters can a muskrat have?

A muskrat family will consist of a mated pair and the most recent get of offspring. A female can have up to three litters a year. Each litter can have as many as eight babies.

How to deter muskrats from eating my plants?

You can use a repellent that you spray on your plants to deter the muskrat, but they are not guaranteed to work.

How long can a muskrat stay underwater?

This safeguard prevents many predators from entering a muskrat’s home. The animal can stay underwater for over fifteen minutes, closing off its ears to prevent water intake. In areas with less mud and more vegetation, such as swamps, the muskrat will create a lodge similar to that of a beaver.

How big is a muskrat's tail?

They are smaller than beavers, but larger than rats, growing to be as large as two feet long. The muskrat tail makes up more than half the body length. The tail is hairless and covered in scales, and is used to facilitate swimming in the water.

How does cayenne pepper affect muskrats?

The cayenne pepper works by overwhelming the muskrat’s sense of smell, which isn’t that great in the first place. Just like it makes our mouths tingle, eyes water, and nose run, it does the same to muskrats. We might like it, but muskrats find it overpowering.

How to keep muskrats away from my house?

These include using different methods to startle them such as sprinklers or loud noises, removing their food supplies, professional removal, and using scents of predators near where muskrats build homes and feed.

How far away can a Havahart sprinkler detect?

Automatic sprinklers, like the Havahart 5277 Motion-Activated Animal Repellant And Sprinkler can detect animal movement by heat and movement up to 60 feet away and spray out a blast of water to scare the unwanted muskrats away.

What to use to repel muskrats?

Another option is granules like the Repels-All Animal Repellent Granules. Similar to using cayenne pepper powder or garlic , you just need to sprinkle these in areas where you notice muskrat activity.

How to get rid of muskrats in a pond?

You can plant garlic and pepper plants or you can sprinkle the spices around your waterways. You can also add the dried spices to a spray bottle of water and spray the areas where you notice muskrat activity. However, if you have a pond or a lake that is even mid-sized, this option can be quite expensive.

What do muskrats eat?

Some of the most common plants in their diets are cattails, grasses, acorns, roots of waterway plants, and pondweed. Muskrats also eat small birds, snails, salamanders, and fish.

Where to use scent deterrents to keep muskrats away?

The best place to use scent deterrents to keep muskrats away are at the edges of your property, around your garden, in any areas you see disturbed piles of dirt that suggests burrowing, and near trash cans.

leaking pond and muskrats

Our pond level has slowly declined since we bought our place. In walking the shore line, I notice multiple depressions in a particular area. An earlier post from blueberrier - who has the same problem - suggested muskrats. I set out some corn and HORRORS, I have muskrats! I can start trapping them, to rid the pond and surrounding area of them.

Comments (6)

Talk to your local county extension agent. It's the sort of thing s/he should be able to advise on. My feeling is yes, it can be "patched", but I don't know details. And you will have to be vigilant against the creatures in the future - where one family liked it, another is sure to.